Killings: It Is Frankly Unfair To Insinuate That I am Sitting Doing Nothing, Buhari Tells Bishops

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the speculations that he is doing nothing to address the crisis between farmers and herdsmen in the country.

The President said this on Thursday when he received a delegation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) led by Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama at the State House in Abuja.

“The impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened, is dishonest,” he said in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

“At every step, I have tried to foresee these problems because I have the experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian army – in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos.

“I am quite aware of the problems we have and I am doing my best to get law enforcement agencies to be on alert,” he added.

President Buhari explained that the policy proposed by Federal Government in response to the crisis was not meant to colonise any part of the country.

Instead, he said the intention of the government was to create grazing locations for cattle rearers, which has now been misconstrued as another form of colonisation.

The President regretted that the well-thought-out policy, which was conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders, had been largely misunderstood by a section of the public.

He, however, assured the Catholic Bishops that the Federal Government would continue to explore all opportunities and support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.

President Buhari also condemned the recent spate of killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states and noted that the security operatives would ensure prosecution of perpetrators and all those found with illegal arms in the affected areas.

The recent killings in Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, and Zamfara states are all regrettable, and saddening. But even more importantly, I am very much aware of all the issues at stake, and doing my best to ensure that justice is done and the security of lives and property guaranteed.

The security agencies have standing instructions to arrest and prosecute any and all persons found with illegal arms. In addition, quite a number of arrests have been made so far, in relation to the killings, and all these persons will be duly prosecuted.

It is quite frankly dishonest and unfair to insinuate that I am sitting doing nothing, while these killings are going on. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have and will continue to act in line with my responsibility as President to ensure security of lives and property.

At every step, I have tried to foresee these security problems, counting on my experience as a former military officer who commanded three out of the four divisions of the Nigerian army, in Lagos, Ibadan and Jos. We will surely make progress, and end the bloodshed.

I would like Nigerians to look at what we have accomplished so far in the Northeast, when you compare what the condition was before we came in and what it is now. We are bringing that same determination and political will to all of Nigeria's other security challenges.

Questions and false insinuations have also come up regarding the Ranching solution proposed by Federal the Government. Let me state very clearly that the policy— conceived after wide consultations with stakeholders—is not meant to colonize any part of the country.

We will continue to work closely with all stakeholders—State Governments, local communities, farmers, pastoralists, civil society and others—and to support initiatives to ensure peace and stability in restive areas.